Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-09
DEATH ON THE GRIDIRON
FOUR HORRORS WHICH SHOULD
HAVE BEEN AVERTED.

The Burning of the store of Ntcol, the
Tailor, BIockades Elevated Railroad
Trains for Four Miies-Many People
Fsn in Fear from the Passage Way Be-
side the Track at the Criminally Care
less Starting of the Trains.
NEW YORK, March Sire occurred
at 5 O'Clock this morning in the store OF
Nicol, the tailor, in the Bowery. Before the
fire was extinguished 1t caused q
loss OF 100000. Trains on the
Elevated road were blocked by the
flames. The blockade occurred all the
way down to South ferry, aud on the track
up to Seventeenth street. A number OF
passengers left one of the trains at Seven
teenth street and started to walk along
the narrow f0otpath at the side Of the
track to the station at Fourteenth street.
While doing so the blockade was relieved
and trains began to start. Their motion
shook the pathway to such an extent
hat number OF passengers were thrown
down to the street. -Four of these were
instantly killed and seven others were
badly injured.
BLOCKED FOR FOUR MILES.
Soon after the fire occurred the down
track was blocked with trains from
Ninth to Fifty-second street. All the
trains were crowded with people. Along
side the track is platform ~ feet wide
used by the trackmen. Above Fourteenth
street it is not provided With hand rail.
One OF the passengers named Patrick
Mathews on train which was bloekaded
between the stations grew impatient of
waiting and opened the gate on the car
platform. stepped down to the platform
beside the track and started to walk to
Fourteenth street. He was followed by
many others, until there was contin-
uous line of men in single file in close
order on this platform, headed by
Mathews. When Mathews had nearly
reached Fourteenth street the blockade
was broken and the trains started up one
after another.
THE FATAL FALLS.
The shaking of the TRACK and the noise
and rush of cars apparently frighten ed
Mathews, because he turned and dashed
tor the car platform. The man next be-
hind did the same, but Mathews hold ap-
parently broke and he t0ppled back upon
the man behind him. Both fell backward
into the street. The c0mmotion on the
platform created by this occurrence
frightened and demoralized others close
to them. Some came in collision and fell,
While others, in panic, jumped from the
ptdtluIu W Jus bbIO6b DClOW, anu bJill
others hurriedly scrambled upon the
passing cars. Tne shouts and screams
outside communicated the panic to the
passengers inside the lars, and many
women tainted. The trains were stopped,
and everybody remaining on the platform
was taken on board the cars. Ten men
fell or leaped to the street, about twenty
feet below, and struck upon the surface
car track or the stone pavement.
FIVE ALREADY DEAD.
Four were killed outright, their skulls
being crushed in each instance. The
other six were seriously hurt. One has
since died In hospital and another Is re-
ported dying. 1t Is supposed that several
others made the leap, but were not so
seriously hurt but that they could take
care of themselves.
The fire. which was the primary cause
of the accident, burned out Nicol's tailor
ing establishment and a couple of small
houses adjoining. Matthews was one of
the men killed. All were clerks or labor.
ing men, who were belated ON their way
to business,